Method for mapping generic client signals into a generic framing procedure (gfp) path

Abstract

10 bit words from a client are packed into 64B/65B blocks such that at least some of the blocks have data containing only a portion of at least some of the 10 bit words. The 64B/65B blocks are combined into groups of eight to form superblocks. The superblocks are combined in multiples of five to form a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) frame such that the GFP frame contains an integer number of complete 10 bit words with no partial 10-bit words.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving 10-bit words from a client;   packing the 10-bit words into 64B/65B blocks such that at least some of the blocks have data containing only a portion of at least some of the 10-bit words;   combining at least some of the 64B/65B blocks in groups of eight to form superblocks;   combining superblocks in multiples of five to form a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) frame such that GFP frame contains an integer number of the 10-bit words with no partial 10-bit words.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flag bit of the 64B/65B blocks is set to indicate data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GFP frames are sent on an optical network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GFP frames include a header. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GFP frames include error correction codes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GFP frames are sent in a transparent GFP mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 10-bit words are remapped as a larger number of 8-bit words before being put into 64B/65B blocks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein upon ingress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by sending idle control frames and client management frames indicating client signal fail. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, for generic 10-bit mapping, upon egress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by an unrecognized 10-bit neutral disparity codeword. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus adapted to:
 receive 10 bit words from a client;   pack the 10 bit words into 64B/65B blocks such that at least some of the blocks have data containing only a portion of at least some of the 10 bit words;   combine 64B/65B blocks in groups of eight to form superblocks;   combine superblocks in multiples of five to form a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) frame such that GFP frame contains an integer number of the 10 bit words with no partial 10-bit words.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the flag bit of the 64B/65B blocks is set to indicate data. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the GFP frames are sent on an optical network. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the GFP frames include a header. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the GFP frames include error correction codes. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the GFP sends the frames are sent in a transparent GFP mode. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the 10-bit words are remapped as a larger number of 8-bit words before being put into 64B/65B blocks. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein upon ingress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by sending idle control frames and client management frames indicating client signal fail. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein, for generic 10-bit mapping, upon egress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by an unrecognized 10-bit neutral disparity codeword. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving a client bit stream;   grouping the bit stream into 8-bit words   putting into the 8-bit words into 64B/65B blocks;   combining at least some of the 64B/65B blocks in groups of eight to form superblocks; and   using at least one superblock to form a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) frame.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the flag bit of the 64B/65B blocks is set to indicate data. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the GFP frames are sent on an optical network. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the GFP frames include a header. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the GFP frames include error correction codes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the GFP frames are sent in a transparent GFP mode. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein upon ingress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by sending idle control frames and client management frames indicating client signal fail. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, for generic 8-bit mapping, upon egress to the GFP path, a client signal fail is indicated by a bit pattern consisting of all ones.